Police: Man asked officer to shoot him

A Pittsville man, later found to be carrying a spring-loaded knife, was arrested Monday after asking a deputy to shoot him during a domestic disturbance call, court records show.

The 2:30 p.m. call in the 7500 block of Maple Street ended after the deputy performed a "reverse leg sweep" inside the suspect's kitchen, who was within arms reach of a shotgun and a rifle, according to a sheriff's office affidavit. Earlier the suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Andrew A. Rittner, approached the deputy with his hand inside his sweatshirt pocket asking to be shot, charging documents show.

The deputy was called after Rittner and his girlfriend got into an argument, according to the documents. Rittner refused to allow her inside the home to retrieve her belongings and had threatened to kill her or "put money on her head," deputies said. The victim also had concerns Rittner would post nude photographs of her on the internet, according to her statement to police.

Court records show the deputy was warned that Rittner had a lot of guns inside the home.

After Rittner screamed obscenities at the deputy from inside the home, he exited it and approached him with his hand inside his sweatshirt pocket before running back inside the house, the court records show. During that time, the victim slipped inside and an argument ensued inside the kitchen, deputies said. The deputy called for back-up and entered the home, at which point charging documents show Rittner directed his yelling at the officer.

When the deputy attempted to pat-down Rittner, he took several steps back towards the counter where the two long-guns were located, according to charging records. As the deputy tried to grab Rittner for the pat-down, deputies said the suspect pushed him away. Unsure if Rittner was unarmed, the deputy performed the leg-sweep and took him to the floor, punching him several times in order to get his arms behind his back, according to court documents.

During a pat-down by the deputy's patrol vehicle, the 4-inch knife was located inside a pants pocket, records show. In addition to the two guns found on the kitchen counter, deputies also located a shotgun inside the bedroom as well as a rifle inside his GMC SUV, court documents state.

Rittner, who court records show has never incurred a charge prior to this incident, apologized to the deputy several times on the way to booking, the sheriff's office said. He was charged with second-degree assault, a misdemeanor carrying up to 10 years in jail. An obstruction and resisting arrest charge was dismissed by a district court commissioner due to lack of probable cause.